Agreement Nearing to Allow Argentine Beef in U.S.

Argentina is closing in on an agreement to send exports of beef to the United States for the first time in nearly 20 years. Reuters reports the agreement, expected to be signed within days, would simultaneously open beef imports to both countries.

Argentina’s International Trade Secretary said the deal would open a market for the U.S. cattle sector, although demand for U.S. beef is low in Argentina. Under the agreement being crafted, Argentina would have a 20,000 metric ton limit on exports to the U.S., while there would be no limit on U.S. beef exports to Argentina.

Another senior Argentine official confirmed that Argentina and the United States were “close” to striking a deal, according to Reuters. Argentina stopped exporting beef to the United States about 17 years ago due to U.S. concerns about contamination of Argentine cattle by foot-and-mouth disease.